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Special NYC Sanitation Department Storm Debris Collections Extended

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Debris left behind by superstorm Sandy will continue to be picked up by the New York City Department of Sanitation through Feb. 18, the city has announced.

The special storm debris collection has been extended for neighborhoods hit hard by Sandy.

So far, the sanitation department has collected more than 389,000 tons of debris, according to the city.

"The men and women of the Department have been working around the clock since Super Storm Sandy hit in order to clear roads of sand and debris and remove massive amounts of flooded furniture, clothing and personal items left behind in its wake," said Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty. "We now are in the midst of the winter snow season and our full resources must be ready to tackle snow storms of any size and frequency. As such, we must cease special collections effective Monday, February, 18, 2013."

The extra pickups of bulky storm debris in Staten Island, southern Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods fall on the day preceding each of their regularly scheduled refuse collection days.

Sanitation crews will continue to remove non-commercial waste. But residents must make their own arrangements for trash and debris removal from large-scale demolition and construction projects.

For additional information, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation.

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